Toys R Us appoints CEO, hires president

Toys R Us Inc., the Wayne-based retail giant, announced today it has appointed a CEO and hired a president.

According to the announcement, Antonio Urcelay has been named chief executive officer, effective immediately. He had served as interim chief executive since May 2013. In addition, Hank Mullany has been named president, and will officially assume the role Nov. 5.

Urcelay, 61 years old, began working at the company in 1996. Recently, as interim chief executive, he was involved in the company's expansion into China. A statement issued by Toys R Us announcing his full appointment to that role cited his experience in "creating strategies to drive growth in global markets," a strength illustrated in the recent Chinese expansion.

Mullany, on the other hand, is an external addition, coming from time spent as chief executive officer of The ServiceMaster Co., as well as executive roles at Walmart.

Mullany, who will report to Urcelay, will handle all merchandising, marketing, e-commerce and store operations responsibilities for the 878 U.S. stores.